SKYcable launches organized channel system

CEBU, Philippines - Aiming to provide a better channel surfing and viewing experience for its subscribers, SKYcable recently launched its new organized channel (OC) system and introduced 6 new full high-definition (HD) channels as the latest service innovations of the cable provider with the most number of HD channels.  

Last Tuesday, SKYcable officials formally introduced to the local media the launching of 6 additional HD channels and the genre-based digital channel line-up with Cebu implementation effective last December 3 completing the regional roll-out of the new services.

SKYcable Corporation Regional Marketing Head Gidgette Faustino said in a press conference that to have the new channel grouping, the company tediously arranged its programs according to genre by giving them channel assignments in increments of 100.

In the campaign dubbed, “OC for you,” free-to-air or local channels are now found between Channel 1 to 99, favorite child-friendly channels belong to channels 101 to 199, while learning and educational channels then follow in the 200 series.

Men-related and sports channels are now conveniently located between channels 301 and 399, movie fanatics could surf through channels 400 to 499 for their daily cinematic fix, and channels 501 to 599 for the latest local and foreign news.

The latest TV series from the US and other general entertainment channels could be found in channels 601 to 699, HD channels could be viewed from 701 to 799 while international and religious channels are between 800-899 and 900-999 respectively.

To further maximize HD-TV viewing experience, SKYcable HD also six new HD channels in addition to its existing 16 channels for a total of 22 full-HD channels which has been recorded as the most number of HD channels being offered by a digital cable provider at present.

Considered to be the first among cable providers, Faustino said that SKYcable felt the urgent need to come up with the new digital line-up initiative for a better and more convenient channel surfing experience taking into account its breadth of content in the market.

She also cited that the OC system makes it faster for a viewer to locate favorite programs since they are grouped according to genre, easier to remember channel assignments because they are in increments of 100 and enables customers to know about other channels to add to their basic line-up.

“What we want here is to set the standards and have that sense of stability and security without having to waste time looking for what channels to watch according to your own preferences. This is a service we offer to our subscribers for a more pleasurable viewing experience without making it severely disrupted. We want that once they turn on their TVs, they all know where to go,” she stated.

She further clarified that there was no channel deleted from the full digital line-up, no price increase due to channel realignment and no more re-alignment of channels, paving the way for a hassle-free addition of new channels in the future.

The company first implemented the latest service innovations in Davao last September and simultaneously launched it in Bacolod, Iloilo and Baguio.

Manila implementation, on the other hand, will take effect in the middle of next year.

She also described the Cebu market as the most dynamic, most complicated and the biggest regional market next to mega Manila.

Faustino clarified that prior the official launching, subscribers were already informed with the new genre-based digital line-up and the addition of 6 HD channels 30 days before the implementation through direct mail, Digibox blasts, and SMS notifications.  — (FREEMAN)